Train message delivery fork



June 10, 1952 GRAMs 2,599,627

TRAIN MESSAGE DELIVERY FORK Filed May 24, 1950 Patented June 10, 1952 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE TRAIN MESSA ELIYEBX EQRK Emll'G. Grams; Willmar, Minn; Application. ama, 195,0.Serial N i1r 3l99 9 Claims. 1'

Myinventionrelates to devices for delivering messages to moving vehicles and, 'more particularly, to train order delivery devices, often referrecl-to. astrainorder hoops or forks. I

Frequently, due to heavy loads or steep grades, it is necessary or desirable to successively attach a. pair of locomotives or engines to a train. Under-such circumstances, a problem arises when it. is desired to passmessages to the engineer of each of the engines. This is. true because of the fact that the engineer in each engine is normally located the same distance from the ground and inviewof the further fact that two such successivelyrcoupled engines passa given point so rapidly that it is extremely difiicult, if not impossible, to reload the conventional message delivery fork in time for delivery of a message to the second engine.

Theprimary object of myinvention is the provision of simple. and inexpensive means whereby identical messages may be passed from a single message-delivering fork in rapid succession.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of means whereby the second message is automatically placed in delivering position by delivery of the first message.

A still further object of my invention is the provisionrof a simple and inexpensive reloading attachment for the abovepurpose, which may be readilysecured to-and removed from a conventional train order delivery fork or hoop.

The above and still further objects and advantages of my novel structure will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended. claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout theseveral views:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my novel structure loaded-for delivery of two messages;

Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 but showing a different position of some of the parts, due to delivery of the first message;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. a is an enlargedview in side elevationtaken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring with greated particularity to the drawings, the numeral l indicates, in its entirety, the conventional train order fork including a generally upright supporting member or shank 2 adapted to be either manually or mechanically supported by means not shown. An enlarged head 3 is rigidly secured to the upper end of the supporting shank 2 and forms an extension by camming action of the loops l3 u thereof. A pain of rigid diverging arms project upwardly from the head.3 in a commonplane. The head .3, intermediate the arms 4, is provided, preferablyon an opposite side, with upwardlyopening clips 5, preferably in the nature ofa spring steel tongue riveted as at 6 to the metal casing 1 forming the head 3.

By reference particularly to Fig. 3, it will be observedthatthe arms 4, at their upper ends. are provided with laterally-extending aligned notches 8. As shown in Fig. 1, the notches 8 cooperate with the spring clips 5 to releasably support an endless message-holding element or cord 9. Cord 9 is, preferably and as shown, provided with a loop ll) into which a message II is adapted to be received. Either of the spring clips 5 may be utilized. However, it is desirable. that the clip into which the cord 9 has been securedbe positioned to face the on-coming train to which the message H is to be delivered.

Up to this point, I have described only aconventional type of train order delivery fork. My invention relates to a, novel reloading device'for structures of the above type and. comprises a second pair of diverging arms l2, each of which is provided at its upper ends with a laterally-projecting closed loop 13 adapted to'slidably receive therein one of the rigid arms 4.. Preferably'and as shown, the. arms l2 are formed from a single length of resilient steel wire, each thereof adjaoenttheir lower'ends being formed to provide a torsion spring [4. At their lower ends, the arms l2 are formed to provide a laterally-extended loop l5 which receives therein the supporting shank 2 It is important to notethat the arms I2, by virtue of theirown resiliency plus the resiliency of the torsion springs M, are yieldingly biased'to spread their free upper ends apart a distance at least equal to that of the space between theupper ends of the arms 4, and preferably evena greater distance. This factor is extremely important in the operation of my .device,.as Will hereinafter become apparent, for the arms I2, 7 n the ri d arms 4, will automatically rise from the position Of Fig. 1 to the side-by-side relationship ofFig. 2.

Projecting laterally from the upper'ends of the arms I 2 in a direction opposite to the loops l 3 are a pair of friction clips l5 which may, as shown, he formed integrally with the loops [3, that is. from a single length of wire. A frictionalclip I 1, preferably and asshown formed from alength of resilient stock bent backwardly 111 11 itself.

.pand. Consequently, .willflclimp. respectivelyupon the rigid arms 4 {Mydevice has found to be completely satisfactory for the ac- I have. disclosed a preferred invention,

3 pivotally secured as at l8 to the looped upper end of a supporting arm Hi. The lower end of the supportingarm I9 is wound tightly about the lower abutting ends of the arms I2 adjacent the loop I5, as indicated at 29, so as to impart permanence to the loop I5.

When it is desired to utilize my novel automatic message reloading device, the messageholding cord 9 is positioned, as indicated: in Fig. 1, with'the message preferably intermediate the free ends of the arms 4. In this position, the cord 9 is received within the notches 8 and in one of the spring clips 5. Thereafter, a second endless message-delivering cord-2|, having a message-receiving loop 22 therein, is-inserted between the laterally-opening friction clips l and the friction clip l1. It will be noted that the message 23, in the loop 22, is positioned along one side of the triangle instead of'between the freeends of the arms I 2. Finally, the portion of the cord 2| intermediate the free ends of the arms I 2 is 'pulled downwardly untilthe arms I2 have assumed the position of Fig. 1. At this point, the cord 2| is forced into the same clip 5 into which the cord 9 has been forced, as there shown. It will be noted that the cord 2| is immediately above the cord 9 and removal of the cord, 9 must necessarily remove the cord 2|. The device is now placed in position, whereby the cord 9 may be intercepted by personnel aboard the first engine of anon-coming train.

., As;.above.."indicated, when the cord 9 is re- ,inoved in the conventional manner, the cord 2| .is freed, from the spring clip 5. The free ends .ofthearms l2 are thereafter free to exthearms l2 and loop |5 and shank 2 to the position of Fig. 2. This change of :positions is almost instantaneous.

.Therefore, irrespective of the speed of the train,

the second message delivery cord 2| will be in aposition to be intercepted by the second enginein ample time.

' been thoroughly tested and compl'ishment of the above objects; and, while embodiment of my it should be obvious that the same iscapable of considerable modification without departure-from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: V l 1. A device for delivering messages to a moving vehicle, said device comprising a generally upright supporting member, a pair of relatively rigid arms diverging upwardly from the upper end of said supporting member, means on said. arms and member for holding an endless flexible message-carrying element, said means including a friction clip on said member, a pair of upwardly-diverging resilient arms, a means mounting said second pair of arms on said supporting member for sliding movements longitudinally of said member toward and away from side-by-side relationship, and clip means on the opposite ends of said second arms for releasably supporting a second flexible message" holding element.

2. ,A device for delivering messages to a moving vehicle, said device comprising a generally upright supporting member, a pair of rigid arms diverging upwardly from the upper end of said supporting member, means on said arms and member for holding an endless flexible message-carrying element, said means including a friction clip on said member, a second pair of upwardly-diverging arms, said arms being yieldingly biased to spread their free upper ends apart a distance at least equal to a distance between the upper ends of said rigid arms, means mounting the upper ends of said second arms one each to one of said rigid arms for sliding movements longitudinally thereof, means mounting the lower end portions of said arms to said supporting member for longitudinal sliding movements thereon, and clip means associated with the opposite ends of said second arms cooperating with the clip on said support to releasably support a second endless "flexible message-holding element, the

bias of said second arms hinging the same toward side-by-side relationship, one each with one of said rigid arms.

,3. A, device for delivering messages to a moving vehicle, said device comprising a generally upright supporting member, a pair of rigid arms diverging upwardly from the upper end of said supporting member, means on said arms and member for holding an endless flexible message-carrying element, said means including a friction clip on said member, a second pair of upwardly-diverging arms, means mounting the upper ends of said second arms one each to one of said rigid arms for sliding movement longitudinally thereof, means mounting the lower end portionspf said arms to said supporting member for longitudinal sliding movements thereon, yielding means biasing said second arms toward a spread-apart relation ship of their upper ends and causingsaid second "arms to be normally disposed inside byside relationship one each with one of said rigidarms, and clipmeans associated with opposite ends of said second arms cooperating with the clip on said support to releasably support a second .endless flexible message-holding element, said yielding means urging said second arms toward side-by-side relationship, one each with one of saidrigid arms.

4. The structure definedin claim 2 in which said second pair of arms are formed from a single length of resilient wire, said wire being formed at its intermediate portion to provide a bearing-forming loop ,ELI'OllIld said supporting member. V v

5. The structure defined in claim 2 in which said second pair of arms are formed from a single length of resilient wire, said wire being formed at its intermediate portion to provide a bearing-forming loop around said supporting member and a pair of torsion springs one each associated with one of said second arms.

6. An accessory for use on devices for delivering messages to moving vehicles, said devices including a generally upright supporting member, a pair of rigid arms, diverging upwardly from the upper end of said supporting member, and means including an upwardly-opening friction clip on said supporting member adjacent thev upper end thereof for holding an endless flexiblemessage-carrying element, said accessory comprising a bearing element adapted to be slidable received on said supporting member for longitudinal sliding movements with respect thereto, a pair of arms associated with said bearing element and projecting generally upwardly and outwardly therefrom, means yieldingly biasing said second arms and said bearing element in an upward direction, whereby to position said second arms in a side-byside relationship with said first-mentioned arms, and clip means on the opposite ends of said second arms for holding a second endless flexible message-carrying element thereon.

7. The structure defined in claim 6 in which said arms and bearing element are formed from a single length of resilient wire.

8. The structure defined in claim 6 in which said element and arms are formed from a single length of flexible Wire and in which a portion of said yielding means comprises integrallyformed torsion springs on said arms adjacent said bearing.

9. The structure defined in claim 6 in which the clip means on the opposite ends of said last-mentioned arms comprises laterally outwardly-opening clips on the outer ends of said second arms, and a clip mounted adjacent the lower end portions of said second arms, said last-mentioned clip being movable about a horizontal axis whereby to open upwardly or lateraliy outwardly.

EMIL G. GRAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,203,596 Feninger et al Nov. 7, 1916 1,398,137 Lumbard Nov. 22, 1921 2,270,021 Hall Jan. 13, 1942 

